More Sexually Transmitted Diseases Answers
Question Library
Ask a question about Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login
Awards
About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer
|
| |
|
|
| |
| | | |
About Jordan
Expertise
My name is Jordan and I am an Epidemiology student at the University of Oklahoma. On top of that I am finishing my bachelors in M.D.S. public health and my minor is H.E.S. (health and exercise science). I have had many classes entirely devoted to sexually transmitted diseases, I am starting my independent study focusing on S.T.D distribution based on demographics, and have had a lot of hands on experience at the clinic that I am currently employed. I believe that sexually transmitted disease are a part of life, like any other non-sexually transmitted disease and can be controlled with knowledge. I would love to share this knowledge with anyone that is seeking it and encourage anyone that needs it to just ask, because I would love to help.
Since this is a public forum, please refrain from using any personal information of yours or anyone else.
| | |
| |
You are here: Experts > Teens > Health for Teens > Sexually Transmitted Diseases > healthcare situation/ sharps stick
Expert: Jordan
Date: 9/5/2008
Subject: healthcare situation/ sharps stick
Question
QUESTION: I was recently stuck by a pair of scissors that came from a suture kit. I am an er tech and part of my "responsibity" is to put the non disposable instruments in water and disinfectant and scrub them and prepare them for sterilization. Well the scissors that I was poked with (in the thumb) had been in the solution well over 8 hours probably more like 12 to 24 hours but I was scrubbing the scissors with a little scrub brush and my hand slipped causing me to poke myself in the thumb! As I was cleaning the darn things I noticed there was no blood or anything on the scissors that I could see but i was thinking to myself how bad it would suck to stick myself and them BAM out of nowhere my hand slipped and I poked myself. I had to do all the testing that is required , but the thing that sucks is that it was an unknown source so Im freaking out not knowing what to do! I just wanna cry. How long can viruses, bacteria live in water/disinfectant? I am so scared i wanna cry. Can anyone give me any advice?
ANSWER: Most virus and bacteria could not live through that, like 99.99%! For example, the HIV virus can only live seconds in our environment, that is no in an antiseptic. It sounds like you probably have nothing to worry about and may just be stressing over the matter. If you are still truly concerned about it you can always get tested, but I really do not think you have anything to worry about.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Does it matter that these scissors were soaking with other instruments that had been used? I only know of a fresh pair of instruments being placed in there before I had been poked. I didn't see anything on the instruments that I was poked with. And Im not sure how long the solution had been made, if it had been made the day before, b/c I didn't make it. Im not as scared as I was but just a little weary.
ANSWER: It would matter if they were soaking with other instruments, if they were just soaking in something like water, where the virus or bacteria could just float freely. Even if the solution was make around a week before if would not really matter, it would not lose potency that quickly. Most people working with instruments like that will probably eventually have the same problem that you have. At the office I work at I did the same thing with some clamps that I did not know had built in scissors that had been soaked for a day in beta dyne, then a day in antibacterial solution. Nothing happened, I just learned we had a new instrument.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So it does matter they were in the solution with other instruments or was that a typo? Im starting to freak myself out. Everybody keeps telling me Im gonna be fine but my mind is just a what if thinker.
Answer
That was a typo, what I ment was that it would not matter. I think you are letting this stress you out to much. I understand why you are stressing yourself out though. I think in this situation the only thing that is going to put your mind at ease is to go to the health department or your primary doctor and have a blood test done. I do not think that they will find anything wrong with you, but if it is stressing you out still it would be a good idea. Everyone keeps telling you that you are going to be fine and I agree, but it is always better to know for sure.
Add to this Answer
Ask a Question
|
|
